REMARKS
Council Member Holden outlines concerns about Wings and Seafood's sidewalk cafe application
0:05:53
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150 sec
Council Member Holden presents several concerns regarding Wings and Seafood's sidewalk cafe application and their current outdoor dining setup. He highlights issues such as underutilization of space, parking challenges, and potential congestion in an already busy area.
- The current outdoor dining setup is rarely used and often serves as storage
- The establishment constructed a structure for the sidewalk cafe before approval, receiving a summons for unauthorized build-out
- Holden suggests the applicant should choose between the sidewalk cafe or the outdoor dining setup, but not both
- Photographs of the current structure are provided to the committee for review
Robert F. Holden
0:05:53
Here are some of my concerns and my constituents concerns.
0:05:57
The current outdoor dining setup is rarely in use and is often used as storage.
0:06:04
This weighs valuable space and takes up much needed parking in Ridgewood, and they have put already notorious for its parking challenges.
0:06:12
Now I have I have cars park that hydrants constantly in that area in crosswalks even on the sidewalk.
0:06:19
On several occasions, the outdoor dining structure have been used for decorative purposes rather than their intended use, further highlighting their really underutilized Even a a Google Maps shows in 2022 shows an inflatable dragon set up in the street.
0:06:41
So this is this is what I'm talking about.
0:06:44
This particular sidewalk is heavily used being right at the entrance or exit of the Forest Avenue M train station and just a block away from a park and IS 93 school.
0:07:00
In addition, in addition the addition of a sidewalk cafe would only exacerbate the congestion in the busy area.
0:07:08
It's also worth noting that before their sidewalk, cafe application was even approved, wings and seafood had already constructed the structure.
0:07:19
That's that they're providing they're providing a photograph, and they they erected a a structure attached to the building illegally to house the sidewalk cafe.
0:07:30
They were issued a perm a summons on July 16th for an unauthorized build out.
0:07:39
And here's the summons.
0:07:40
The applicant essentially created this extension of the building.
0:07:44
Several flags came up that caused the call up in the first that caused this call up in the first place.
0:07:50
And that's why we need We needed this to be heard by in the sub committee.
0:07:55
I look forward to hearing why the applicant feels the sidewalk cafe is needed.
0:08:00
I would also like to see a decision from the applicant on whether they will choose to proceed with either the sidewalk cafe or the outdoor dining set up, but not both.
0:08:12
Again, I wanna thank Sherr, and I do have photographs if the committee would like to see the current structure.
0:08:19
Thank you.
0:08:21
I'll pass that around for the members.